What an incredible round of AFL, and what a game to finish off the 2017 season. Like the rest of what has come to date, it was unpredictable, exciting, and somewhat baffling. Hard to believe the Dees dropped that game against the Pies to put themselves in the position they were, but I’m sure any Demons fan would tell you that it’s very typically Melbourne. Similarly somewhat difficult to believe the Eagles toppled the Crows by the margin they needed - given how dominant the Crows have been and how inconsistent the Eagles have been. Nonetheless, they had the ‘Subi’ crowd (and sun) behind them, and their poached finals heroes (Mitchell, Jetta) willed them across the line.

The Tigers, meanwhile, are in ominous form - particularly their main man Dustin Martin - and secured themselves a double chance in their defeat of a disappointing Saints. The Bombers earlier survived a scare against the Dockers, and it was heart-warming to see the pure elation on their players’ faces as the siren sounded. Glad also that we’ll see Jobe Watson go on (as will Matt Priddis and Sam Mitchell) for another week, but we did of course say goodbye to one champion today in Nick Riewoldt (who was chaired off by his cousin Jack).

For those wondering, these are the match-ups for week one of the finals:

Exciting times - reckon the two qualifiers in particular should be brilliant games.

In the NRL today the St George Illawarra Dragons kept their season alive with an unlikely victory over the Penrith Panthers - all thanks to an incredible Tariq Sims tackle, intercept and try. I encourage everyone to watch it who hasn’t already - even if you’re not an NRL fan - possibly the play of the year. They’ll face off against Canterbury next Sunday afternoon in another do-or-die encounter. Earlier, the Sea Eagles pulled off their own heist with a last-gasp, golden point victory over the Warriors courtesy of their hero, Daly Cherry-Evans. He hauled his team over the line with two consecutive field goals - one to tie the scores, and another to win it. The Sea Eagles needed a win, and got it - just.

Be sure to check in tomorrow for AFL, NRL and Rugby Union columns - but in the meantime, I hope you enjoyed this pre-finals edition of Sportwatch.

Nick Riewoldt played his final game for the Saints against cousin Jack Riewoldt’s Tigers. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

West Coast Eagles 15.10 (100) beat Adelaide Crows 10.11 (71)

What a fitting end to their time at Domain Stadium/Subiaco. The Eagles have pulled off an incredible heist, knocking the Demons out of the finals at the last possible moment. The margin in the end was 29 points, just enough to propel them into a finals campaign. Their retiring heroes - Sam Mitchell and Matt Priddis - are thrilled. Mitchell in particular played an incredible game - he had 34 disposals, 13 contested possessions, four clearances and seven marks. Gaff likewise had 32 possessions, 11 contested, five marks, three clearances and three tackles. Cripps kicked three goals, while LeCras kicked two.

For the Crows, Matt Crouch had a huge 45 disposals, with 13 contested possessions, four clearances, five inside 50s and 7 tackles. His brother Brad also had 43 - 15 contested possessions, 10 clearances and 6 tackles. Not to be outdone, Rory Sloane also had 38 disposals - with 23 contested possessions, 14 clearances and 9 tackles.

Heartbreak for the Demons, joy for the Eagles, and a thriller to end the regular 2017 season.

Josh Kennedy has a golden opportunity to kick a goal but he’s repelled by a brilliant tackle - and misses. Meanwhile the Crows swarm back down the middle to Eddie Betts who finds Charlie Cameron - and he goals to put MELBOURNE back into the eight!

Dom Sheed blasts the ball long into the 50 - but it’s short, and Barrass repels Brad Crouch’s clearing attempt with a point. Barrass is back in it again, taking a contested grab outside 50 to bomb the Eagles back towards their goal.

Vardy to Gaff - who hesitates and gets caught holding the ball. Nerve-wracking six or so minutes to go.

Sam Mitchell of the Eagles looks to break with the ball during the round 23 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Adelaide Crows at Domain Stadium. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Desperate, finals-like football, and Charlie Cameron takes on Lewis Jetta in a sprint - but can’t evade him. Jetta forces his kick out on the full, and the Eagles take it back. Those with finals experience (Jetta and Mitchell) are really stepping up.

Kennedy! Partington finds him on the lead in the pocket - but it’s a tough kick. It’s very close - but misses narrowly.

Last game at Domain Stadium (or Subi) and the Eagles fans are out in force to say farewell. The Eagles are also wearing commemorative guernseys, if you’re wondering why their jumpers look a little different than usual.

Seedsman finds Betts after a burst of pace through the middle. Neat work from Seedsman - and it’s a critical miss by Betts.

McGovern repels the Crows’ foray forward, and Lewis Jetta uses his pace to find Cripps in the 50 in space - but he’s caught by Richard Douglas. Douglas gets Cripps low around the ankles, and he wins a free. He hits the post.

Sloane tries to clear and hits Luke Shuey - but he in turn turns it over.

The Eagles lead by 31 at three-quarter-time - which is enough for them to make the finals, and displace the Demons. Not totally convinced yet, but it’s hard to see them dropping below that margin from here. They’ve got the crowd behind them and have been the better team all game. Surely there’s enough incentive - it’ll be up to how much is in it for the Crows.

Mark LeCras of the Eagles celebrates a goal during the round 23 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Adelaide Crows at Domain Stadium. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Confusion reigns as there’s a score review - even though Eddie Betts has a free 5m out. They wanted to check if Seedsman had kicked the goal anyway, but he hadn’t, which means the free goes to Betts. He makes no mistake.

Not sure there’s enough on the line here for the Crows to fire - not that that should be the case, but it seems that way. I’m reminded of the Dogs getting thumped in the final round of last year’s season - and we all know what happened after that. I felt the same way watching the Giants lose by so much to the Cats last night - I back both the Giants and the Crows in to bounce back. Not sure the Crows will win today though.

Crows are winning plenty of key stats - but you wouldn’t know it from watching the play. They’ve had 35-23 clearances and 38-28 inside 50s, the Crows. Eagles however leading tackles 44-36 and look hungrier.

Richmond 19.8 (122) beat St Kilda 12.9 (81)

The Tigers are finally back in the finals - and they’ve also managed to secure a double-chance, finishing third on the ladder. That sets them up for a qualifying final against Geelong - which arguably may need to move to the MCG from Simonds given the crowd that could turn up.

Dustin Martin dominated yet again - with 36 disposals and 2 goals, while Jacob Townsend kicked another five goals (that’s 11 in a fortnight for him). Nick Riewoldt was quiet in his final game, but did manage a single major.

Just a quick match report on this one so I can get back to the critical West Coast v Adelaide clash (if the Eagles win by enough, the Dees will miss out on finals).

There were plenty of characteristic fend-offs from the likely Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin. Photograph: Julian Smith/AAP

St George Illawarra Dragons beat Penrith Panthers 16-14

Penalty to Mansour awarded just before the siren - Widdop wouldn’t let him up - which gifts 40m to Penrith. Can the Panthers do it? They get all the way to the 20, but can’t make it further. That result ends Penrith’s seven-game winning streak. The Dragons’ season is still alive! They’ll now need to beat the Bulldogs next Sunday afternoon in a thrilling final round.

What a brilliant play that tackle and intercept was by Tariq Sims- could watch that over and over again.

Huge call by the Dragons to drop Josh Dugan - they’ve come away with the win with the season on the line and their representative player missing. Great stuff by the Saints, courageous move and it paid off.

Matthew Dufty of the Dragons beats tackle attempts by Nathan Cleary and Dallin Watene Zelezniak of the Panthers on his way to a try. Photograph: Craig Golding/AAP

Outstanding defence from the Dragons sees Harawira-Naera lose the ball - it looks like Lafai knocks the ball out on the tackle. In any event it’s a Dragons ball - and they race back down the ground. They make it to the halfway mark before Blake brings it back - but Cleary puts the ball down - ouch. That could be the game.

Sims can’t bring it back into play - he tries to pass it to Widdop, who drops it back onto Sims who luckily collects. It’s another dropout thanks to yet another brilliant Cleary kick. Here come the Panthers.

Beauty of an offload from Nightingale to Widdop, but McInness’ kick is a poor one - and the Panthers go again from inside their own 20. Brilliant kick from Cleary and it looks like Dufty is pulled over the line for a dropout - but it’s ruled a penalty against the Panthers (it looked like he landed before they came at him again). The home crowd, naturally, disagrees.

Paul Vaughan of the Dragons scores a try during the round 25 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the St George Illawarra Dragons at Pepper Stadium. Photograph: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Great work by Dufty to take the Cleary kick inside and avoid another dropout. Mansour gives away a penalty on the third for taking the ball, and the Dragons start again from 30m. They make it all the way up the ground with a kick and Widdop tackle on Zelezniak just outside the uprights.

Mistake by MacDonald who loses the ball - and a knock-on is ruled against the winger. Looked like Fisher-Harris touched it, but unintentionally. Panthers with another run at it. They make it to 10m out and Cleary deftly kicks for another dropout. Great tackle by May.

Amazing try for the Dragons! Sims steals the ball after a massive tackle on Watene Zelezniak, who took the ball after the kick-off - and Sims runs 40m and over ahead of Mansour who couldn’t get near him. Incredible play. No conversion, but the Dragons retain a 2-point lead.

Penalty for the Panthers - lazy tackle by McInness catches Harawira-Naera high, and the Panthers go again from 40. The Cleary kick is an awkward one and hits the uprights - he chases his own ball and almost makes it over if not for a crunching tackle by Sims.

Joshua Mansour of the Panthers is tackled during the Round 25 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the St George Illawarra Dragons at Pepper Stadium. Photograph: Craig Golding/AAP

Mansour scores! Or does he? Possible obstruction with a collision between Zelezniak and MacDonald - on the replay it looks like MacDonald was already well beaten - I’m anticipating a try. The bunker agree, and it’s a try to Mansour. Cleary converts, and the Panthers are back in front.

Dylan Edwards with an ice-pack on his knee on the bench - he won’t return and the coaching staff are worried that this might be a long-term injury.

Great kick from Cleary - MacDonald collected and was well back in play but stood up too high on the tackle and was dragged back over the line for the dropout. The Dragons, however, they kick the ball short and it bounces awkwardly backwards, evading the Panthers. Well played, St George. They win a penalty, too, and start again at the halfway mark. They make it all the way to the 10, and force a dropout down the other end after a clever, perfectly weighted Widdop kick.

Josh Bruce lining up but can’t convert - that would’ve been three in a row for the Saints. Up the other end, Jack Riewoldt monsters a kick from 60m out and lifts his team - think they’re fine, the Tigers.

And the retiring champ - Nick Riewoldt - gets one back for the Saints just to make things a little more interesting.

I’ll go back to the NRL but then we’ll go to the Eagles, Crows game since the Eagles are currently, technically, in the eight on percentage.

Tigers players Jack Riewoldt (left) and Trent Cotchin react after Riewoldt kicked a goal during the Round 23 AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the St Kilda Saints at the MCG. Photograph: Julian Smith/AAP

Looks like the Eagles mean business as they fight for their spot in the finals - they can make it if they win by around 20-25 points (in which case they leapfrog Melbourne). Cripps has 2, while Redden and Vardy have kicked a goal each for the Eagles. Betts has one for the Crows. Lever was off the ground and looking rather groggy, but is back on now.

Sam Jacobs of the Crows and Drew Petrie of the Eagles contest the ruck during the round 23 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Adelaide Crows at Domain Stadium. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Back at the MCG it looks like the Saints have made some ground on the Tigers, with a goal to Josh Bruce and a point to Jack Lonie. Have just realised that Dustin Martin’s 23 disposals in the first half was his own career-high. He’s up to 25 now - 10 contested possessions, 4 marks and 4 inside 50s.

Great kick by Billings sets up Membrey who was running back with the flight of the ball. He kicks it from 10m out to narrow Richmond’s lead.

Nathan Brown of the Saints (left) and Jack Riewoldt of the Tigers contest during the Round 23 AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the St Kilda Saints at the MCG. Photograph: Julian Smith/AAP

Dylan Edwards looks to have hurt his knee after he chased a Cleary kick that again held up in the wind - which is blowing furiously here (with rain also threatening). He’s back on the right wing but is struggling badly. Dragons make some big gains through Widdop’s brilliant offload, and McCrone almost makes it over but for an incredible tackle by Watene Zelezniak. Panthers give away a penalty for not letting McCrone go, and they go again.

Dufty! With a great burst of speed he’s over and the Dragons are back in the lead. Really like this guy, love seeing him in the #1. Widdop kicks an absolute beauty.

Tyson Frizell of the Dragons is tackled during the round 25 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the St George Illawarra Dragons at Pepper Stadium. Photograph: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Fantastic take by Dufty after the Cleary kick held up in the air - but Mansour bumps McCrone as he gets to his feet and he knocks the ball on. Dragons fans will be furious. Panthers should score here - and they almost do through Cleary but he’s held up right on the line. On the fifth tackle Cleary kicks and tries to chase his own ball - and is blocked. Penalty gifts the Panthers the ball again - and they choose to take two. Cleary converts to put the Panthers in the lead.

Corey Harawira Naera of the Panthers is tackled during the round 25 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the St George Illawarra Dragons at Pepper Stadium. Photograph: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images